So, you previously read Turntable Kitchen’s Top Ten Reasons to Buy a Turntable, and are now thoroughly convinced that you need a record player, but are looking for a place to start. Buying a turntable can be a daunting experience. After all, there is a lot to consider. For example, do you want belt-driven or direct-drive? Also, you need to decide if you want a turntable with or without a built-in preamp. Do you want to start an audiophile quality setup that can be upgraded over time, or do you just want something simple that will allow you to play records? Ultimately, after considering those factors, the answer as to which turntable you’ll want will primarily depend on two factors: your budget and what your goal for your system is (Note: this article presumes you aren’t seeking a DJ-style deck which are designed with different considerations than a turntable intended as a hi-fi system).

I’ve broken my recommendations down into a few different categories, starting with a recommendation for the beginner record collector, moving to recommendations for archivists (meaning you want a way to transfer vinyl to MP3), followed by my recommendation for starting an audiophile quality stereo system, and ending with my tips for selecting your own turntable if the ones I recommend don’t appeal to you.

I Want a Basic Turntable To Listen To My Small Collection of Records

If you are on a budget, but want a good, basic turntable that will let you play those pretty 7” records you receive in your Turntable Kitchen Pairings Box each month, I recommend the AT-LP60-Automatic Turntable. It is a solid starter turntable. It is belt-driven and includes a built-in preamp and line-level RCA outputs, which means it is good to go straight out of the box and won’t require you to purchase any other equipment. You can connect this turntable to a home stereo system. Compared to the other turntables in this range, you’ll get very good sound reproduction when listening to your record collection. You can upgrade many of the components, such as the stylus, to improve the overall performance of the player.

Personally, I’m not crazy about USB to PC turntables for converting vinyl records into MP3 format. Most people I know who buy them don’t use them for that purpose very often (if ever) and instead just use them to play records. And, of course, the feature will cost you – either in terms of the overall quality of your turntable or in price. Besides, many contemporary records include digital downloads with purchase of the vinyl anyways. However, if you have a collection of old, rare records, this might be the easiest way to transfer the music at listenable quality.

If you are seeking a turntable for this purpose, the next question you need to ask is whether you are simply seeking a basic, starter turntable to transfer your music or looking for a high-end audiophile piece of equipment to also make your music sound glorious. I recommend three turntables for this section, based on the criteria you’re looking to fulfill. The Ion is the cheapest of the three and will do a good job of both playing your records and transferring them digitally (however, see the comments section: one reader noted that there are speed issues and it may not be possible to bypass the built in preamp which isn’t very good quality). The Music Hall USB-1 will do a better job at playing your records, and the Pro-Ject Essential USB Turntable is the somewhat pricier audiophile choice that will make your music sounds mind-blowing.

I Want an Audiophile System To Make My Records Sound Amazing

If you’re really into your music and want a turntable that can change the way you hear your favorite albums, then you are going to want to get an audiophile quality deck. Keep in mind, they aren’t cheap, but they’re worth the price if you’re serious about building out your music collection. Even an entry-level audiophile quality turntable is going to cost you at least $350 for the turntable itself, and it won’t have a built-in preamp, so you’ll need to buy that, too. Odds are, you are going to need a phono-in unless your integrated amp or amplifier has one built-in. And, of course, you’ll eventually need to buy good speakers because even a great turntable will sound crappy out of bad speakers. If you’re prepared and excited to start building out your record-listening collection, allow me to make some recommendations.

The three most commonly recommended entry-level audiophile turntables are the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, the Rega RP1, and the Music Hall MMF 2.2. If possible, your best bet is to go to an audio-equipment store and give each a listen before deciding on which one you want. Each is a fantastic turntable that will breathe new life into your record collection.

When selecting mine, I went out to local audio-equipment stores and gave each of them a test drive using the same records, integrated preamp, cables and speakers for each test run. When all was said and done, I left with a slight, but certain, preference for the sound from the Debut III (now upgraded and called the Debut Carbon). It was warm, clean and very alive. Not only that, but for me, it was the sexier looking turntable of the three. I bought it in red, but it is also available in several other colors including silver, black, white, blue, green and yellow. The RP1 was a close second, but it was a definite second place and also more expensive. Thus, I recommend the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (the update to the Debut III).

Personally, I started my system with a Cambridge Audio azur 340A integrated pre-amp, a Cambridge Audio phono-in, and a pair of PSB speakers. It sounds great to my ears. I later updated my Debut with an acrylic platter and the Pro-Ject Speed Box (which increases bass performance and improves and automates speed control). Next I plan to purchase a new cartridge and better speakers.

Tips For Selecting Your Own Turntable

Not interested in any of the ones I recommended above? Maybe you just want to hit eBay to buy a vintage turntable. No worries, here are some tips to help you select your own.

Belt-drive vs. Direct-drive

I recommend belt-drive turntables. If you aren’t a DJ, the advantages of direct-drive turntables are insignificant, but the disadvantages are numerous – especially if you aren’t ready to dive into the high-end market (and even then, I generally recommend belt-driven turntables). This is because direct-drive turntables can transmit noise from the motor and bearing to the stylus, which means the sound produced isn’t as clean as it could be. Many direct-drive turntables also can have issues related to speed that cause pitch variations in playback (a.k.a. wow and flutter). Conversely, the belt on a belt-driven turntable absorbs vibrations that may otherwise be picked up by the stylus.

Built-in amplifiers

First, let me say that I have no intention of getting deep into a discussion of preamps, integrated preamps, and amplifiers. There is a lot to cover on the topic, and I want to keep this about selecting a turntable. However, when selecting a turntable, you’ll need to decide whether you want to purchase a turntable with a built in preamp or not.

I’m going to try to keep this as straightforward as possible, which means I’m glossing over a lot of stuff here. With that said, here is the basic gist of it: without a preamp, the output from your turntable won’t be loud enough to be picked up through normal stereo equipment/speakers. Personally, I don’t like turntables with built-in amplifiers and I’d rather buy my own. With a built-in preamp you are stuck with the quality of the preamp built-in to the turntable, which probably isn’t very good. Audiophile equipment generally won’t include that option anyway. However, buying a turntable with a built-in preamp saves you the cost of having to buy a separate preamp. Thus, the bottom line is this: if you are on a tight budget, go with a turntable with a built-in preamp; if you are going middle of the road on a system you can improve over time, I’d recommend buying a separate integrated amp (combines the preamp and amplifier)(hint: you may find cheap “vintage” equipment on eBay to get you started); and if you are looking to build the perfect system you’ll probably want to go with a separate preamp, amplifier, turntable, and phono-in. As I mentioned above, I started my system with a Cambridge Audio Azur 340A integrated pre-amp, a Cambridge Audio phono-in, and a pair of PSB speakers.

I wouldn’t recommend the Ion iPTUSB turntable. I have one and after a few months it started playing records to fast so the pitch was to high. It has a pitch control but the speed would change all of the time so it just got to be more trouble than it was worth.

I also thought that if you used the standard rca output that it would bypass the built in pre-amp. Unfortunately it does not. The built in pre-amp sounds okay through small speakers but sound awful through an actual stereo.

That is good to know. I have some other friends who have that one (it’s pretty popular), but they don’t use it often enough to have serious problems. I’m going to update the post to suggest that people review your comment before buying that one.

This is simply an amazing list and breakdown to get the turntable for what you want! Also thanks for the breakdown with the amp vs preamp, perhaps that could be the next blog post? 🙂

Johnintokyo

If you aren’t a DJ, the advantages of direct-drive turntables are insignificant, but the disadvantages are numerous WTF… cheap quality secondhand Direct Drives are easily found, advantages insignificant, well if wow and flutter don’t matter to you. Honestly if you’re going to buy secondhand a good value direct drive is easy to find the only thing it may require is a decent cartridge. The Technics range is almost bullet proof, incredibly reliable no worries about belts, and the motors have such high torque that they won’t be wearied by age.

Thanks for the comment. I stand by my comments though. You’ll notice that the standard Pro-Ject Turntable I recommended is under the $400 mark when you buy it brand new. It’s belt-driven and plays beautifully. There are no issues related to wow and flutter. Because I’m not a DJ, I value speed and pitch stability over any advantages a direct drive turntable may offer. I’d feel differently about this if I wanted to use my turntable for DJing purposes.

With all of that said, I’d agree that you can probably find a used direct drive turntable in that same price range that will provide great playback with little or no wow and flutter issues. But personally, I’d rather buy the new turntable for the same price. In other words, when comparing a new direct drive turntable to a new belt drive turntable within the $400 and under price range – I’d always recommend the new belt drive UNLESS you want to DJ with it.

Christopher Bacarella

As someone who is a total newbie when it comes to building a reputable vinyl based audio system, what exactly do the pre-amp and the phono in serve to do? I want to create a really good system, but also want to know the process behind it before I take the plunge. Thanks!

Mia

Hi. I was wondering if you knew a basic but loud record player that could play all three speeds and could also make the records sound amazing without breaking the bank, preferably under 300 dollars and preferably vintage looking but it’s no problem if it doesn’t. The one you recommended for a basic turntable only plays two speeds. Thank you

Hi Mia. I just wrote a book report length response and then due to internet connection problems lost everything I wrote. Unfortunately, that means you’re getting the short answer. Here are three options:

2. Ion turntable from above in the USB section. Pros: Good sound, plays all three speeds easily, converts records to MP3, and relatively cheap. Cons: Some users (see below in comments) have had problems with playback speed over time.

Hello, I read your article and saw that you recommended the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 turntable for a newbie. I am extrememly new to playing vinyls; never had a turntable before. I was also considering the Grace Digital GDIVW00 which somebody recommended to me. Could you please give your opinion on which would be the better choice. I do not care about recording vinyls to mp3 I just want to listen to the hand full of records I have. Thank you very much for your help!

I definitely recommend the Audio-Technica over the Grace Digital. In all fairness, I haven’t used the Grace Digital before, but I’ve read a number of exceptionally poor reviews for it. It tends to average about 2 stars out of 5 from users, whereas the Audio-Technica tends to receive about 4 out of 5 from users. I hope that helps.

I’ve had the AT-LP60 for about a year now. Easy to set up, easy to use, easy to take apart. Sounds pretty decent, and the motor is a lot stronger than I was expecting. Comes with lots of cables.
I also got mine really cheaply, which is the best part.
You could use it to rip vinyl to mp3s if you really wanted, but then it starts to become really apparent that it’s not the best setup for that.

John

so If a get the AT LP60, can I plug it into my Bose control pod for my Bose Campanion 3 series?

I can’t say for sure with 100% confidence I’ve not used the Bose Wave system before. However, I’ve tried to do a little research online so I could answer your question. It appears that the Bose Wave System has an aux-input (similar to a head phone jack) and regular audio inputs (the red & white inputs). If this is true then I’d think that any of the turntables above with a built-in preamp should work just fine with it. The Music Hall USB-1 and AT-LP60 would be the easiest to set up with your system.

The other turntables (especially the higher end models) listed about shouldn’t be too tricky to connect either except that you’d probably also need to buy a phono-in and a pre-amp as well.

I hope that helps!

Matthew

R

Do you need speakers in order for the AT-LP60-Automatic Turntable to work?

I am not looking for a trendy/vintage turntable, but if I can get good quality then I am open to a trendy turntable. My top priority is easy set-up without any add ons needed. I have had a number pf people recommend the Crosley brand, but I am unsure of the quality. Is this a quality, start-up turntable? Do you recommend it? If so, which is the best model?

Angela G.

I bought the following turntable for someone, who, I ended up not gifting it to: Stanton T62 Straight Arm Direct-Drive DJ Turntable with 500.v3 Cartridge Pre-Mounted. I, however, need something to play my records. Is this turntable unnecessary for me? I only listen to my records every now and then. Should I return it and buy a simpler record player, and one with a preamp? I just also realized this one does not have a preamp. This turntable seems a little too “advanced” for me…but maybe It’s not. Any opinions? Suggestions for a different turntable?? Or if I should keep it, and can someone recommend speakers for it? I’m very indecisive about this because I have NO CLUE about record players/turntables! Thank you!

I’m happy to help. I’m not super familiar with it, but from what I’ve read the Stanton is a fine turntable to start with. You can definitely get a preamp an stick with it and I don’t think you’d be disappointed. You could also trade it in for the Music Hall USB-1 which is $50 more (a decent preamp will cost you more than $50 – so this is actually a cheaper option). If you want to spend even less you could even go for the AT-LP60 which is $130 and has a built-in preamp as well.

The AT-LP60 also has RCA outputs so you could work with any speaker system that included those inputs (for the traditional red and white plugs). I can give you some recommendations on speakers, but I’d need to know how much you were looking to spend to get more specific.

I hope that helps!

Angela G.

Thank you for the quick response! I really like the looks of the Music Hall USB-1; Some sites show it with the clear cover and some do not, I would really like a cover, so I’m a little unsure about ordering it. I was also looking at this record player: Crosley – CR6009A-GY Advance USB Stereo Turntable, but haven’t heard many positives about Crosley. What do you think? I also like the way it looks. I would definitely take some recommendations on speakers. Probably $100-$300 is what I’d be willing to spend, unless I found a nice set at a thrift store/craigslist.

judy

Hi Matthew. First of all, thanks for your helpful article! Now I was hoping that you’d be able to help me choose my first vintage record player. It’s between a Philharmonic Red Electric Portable 4-Speed Record Player or a Rca Victor Victrola Record Player in Hard Case 4 Speeds. What I’m looking for is a basic, vintage record player. I love that the vintage ones have character and dig the looks of them, but I want to make sure that it has decent quality/worth the price, despite its apparent age.
Which of the two would you suggest?

I have the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 and for a budget item this is worth every penny. First off I would like to say that I am indeed an audiophile, only I am a broke audiophile. I do hope to upgrade to the project carbon one day, however for the time being this is a great turntable to have around. It does not sound like a budget model, and nor does it function like one, it gets the job done and sounds really good doing it. I also really like how it has the option of turning the pre-amp on or off, this is great for me because i have an amp in one room, and the other i have to plug it into computer speakers and i use the preamp. This does have some downfalls such as there is no adjustment for the weight of the tone arm and I would like it to play at 72 rpm (i dont expect that from a budget model but it would be nice). Overall i highly recommend this to anybody who wants the most for their low budget.

Thanks for the comment. I hope folks do take the time to read these comments, because I think this is good info for people on the fence. While it’s really great to have a Pro-Ject, there is no question that you don’t need to drop $400-500 to have a great listening experience with a turntable. I recommended the Audio-Technica exactly for the reasons you described. It sounds significantly better than similarly priced options (such as some of the Sonys and Crosleys I’ve heard). I also loved that built-in preamp that you can chose to use or bypass.

I’ve not spent a lot of time with the Essential (it’s a newer model), but based on my experience with other Pro-Jects I’d definitely recommend it. I’m using the Pro-Ject Debut (the predecessor to the Carbon), and I love it.

I’m not an audiophile nor a DJ, but I can tell for sure that my favorite turntable is the Technics SL-1200 MKxx. The problem is, it is now gone, and there are people who, like me, don’t want to take the risk of buying used without trying first. For those of us, the best option in the absence of the almighty Technics is one of the so-called Super-OEM turntables. I have a Numark TTXUSB and I think it’s a terrific machine. Sturdy and well isolated. That and the Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB are the best options for someone who wants a solid brand-new direct drive turntable. The Stanton ST.150 is another great one, but forcing customers to buy an included stock cartridge at an additional price is a big minus for it.

Not that I want to put the Super-OEMs at the level of high-grade audiophile equipment, but it makes me feel sad to see/hear many audiophiles despising them just because of being “Chinese Technics knockoffs”. While they are not “the real thing”, they are no slouches either.

savage

I was looking for a aesthetically pleasing minimal great sounding setup for the living room i was considering the tdk turntable as it looks great with the leather dust cover high gloss finnish and also comes with a switch able integrated phono amp and a usb port i found one for £230 but the cartridge and stylus are basic and i have no need for the usb i was also thinking of hooking up some tannoy 601a monitors and upgrading the stylus to get the best sound quality or just go for the pro-ject carbon
.

I’m sorry to say I don’t have any personal experience with TDK turntables. I’ve read complaints about the price, the audio-ripping software, and about the cartridge/stylus, but I’ve also read a number of reviews that said that they were quite happy with the overall sound quality and physical appearance of the turntable. Judging from the pictures I’ve seen it’s certainly a beautiful deck. I also like that it has a belt drive. I’d say the Carbon is the safer choice in that it’s been widely well-reviewed and is considered a relatively good value for the money by most audiophiles. That said, it sounds like the TDK is also an above average intro turntable. My guess based on what I’ve read is that you wouldn’t be disappointed if you chose to give the TDK a go. If you do, I’d love to hear what you thought of it after you’ve had it for awhile.

It’s depend a little on the specific models in question, but generally speaking I’d recommend an Audio-Technica over a Crosley in most cases.

Matthew

The website you linked to, Insound, say that they don’t ship outside of North America due to the quality of the turntable being compromised by a converter. Could you possibly explain why this is, and whether or not the loss in quality is large enough to make a difference? And what does this mean for me living in New Zealand; are there any options through which I can still get a high quality sound out of a turntable? Any help would be appreciated . Thanks.

I’ve got a Sony turntable w/USB but not the rest of the components. Upon thinking about it I want to build the best system for the best quality and I’ll probably get rid of my never used turntable. I just bought a audiophile Mobile Fidelity Pat Benatar LP; In The Heat of the Night, have a DJ Copy from 1979 of Heartbreaker/We Live For Love I got from Tokyo; plus all of my other vinyls and I want to rock out with the best system I can find. I’m a grown up now with my own home and can listen to my music loud w/out the parentals banging on my door. No residence of my left; stoner guy living next door on my right, and a deaf man across the street; I plan for my pictures to shake on the walls.

Philip Glazzard

Hi Mark, that’s a decent guide to buying a vinyl player – you might like to read my article on great turntables I have owned over the last 30 years, see

Hi Matt, thanks a lot for this article, this shown a long experience of turntable what your are.

Let me ask for the Technics sl-1900 turntable what do you think? It is a direct drive, but my idea is going into audiophile. I go to rigth path?

Thanks again.

Ilya

Hi Matt, I need your advice. I am looking for a record-player for my 97-y/o dad. In terms of quality and features, it can be pretty basic, and, preferably, have built-in speakers. However it does have to be fully automatic: he has a bad tremor, and won’t be able to manipulate it manually (other than placing a record on it). Are those requirements – built-in speakers and automatic – contradictory? Thanks a lot!

I believe there are some turntables that are fully automatic and have built-in speakers, but none that I can recommend. Not because they are necessarily bad, but because I don’t have any experience with them. The brands that I see come up when I look on Amazon that feature both aren’t particularly great. I can say that the Audio Technica AT-LP60 is fully automatic. It doesn’t have built in speakers, but I’m pretty sure it does have outputs that would allow you to plug in a pair of laptop speakers.

Hannah

Hi guys, I was wondering if you know anything about this system? Seems like a good price with everything included…

Hi
I’m just thinking about buying my husband a turntable for Xmas . We have an Acoustic Wave Bose Music system at home and I am not entirely sure whether or not this system would be compatible with a project turntable. If I can I’d like to be able to plug into the bose system without having to purchase separate speakers etc etc….do you have any pointers for me , thanks Rach

Another person asked about this before. I can’t answer this with 100% confidence because I’ve not used the Bose Wave system before. However, from what I can tell from a little online research it appears that the Bose Wave System has an aux-input (similar to a head phone jack) and regular audio inputs (the red & white inputs). The Pro-Ject should plug in just fine except that you’d probably need a phono-in like this one: http://www.insound.com/Phono-Box-DC-Preamp-Pro-Ject-Audio/P/INS109898/from=60603

The reason is because output from a turntable without a built-in preamp is too quiet to play properly through a normal audio system. Once upon a time stereo systems were built with turntables in mind, but that’s not true anymore so most don’t have a standard phono-in nowadays. A phono-in should be enough to cleanly amplify the sound so that it sounds right through the Bose Wave system. I hope that helps.

Chloe

Hi there, I’m looking for a player with ideally built in speakers but if not one which you can just plug speakers into it. I have a lot of vinyls but not yet a player for them! Can u recommend any that won’t take up too much room and aren’t really expensive?

Just the other days my friend told me she was going to give away an entire collection of records from a passed relative. She mentioned that there was an ample abundance of classical music records and suddenly she had my interest. Of coursed, as a newbie I have been researching online for hours now about what I need to know to use/buy a turntable and any perks that come with it.I am quite sure that in time I can gather enough information to get into being an audiophile, but I am faced with a simple problem: I don’t know where to buy a turntable (saving up for a good Debut Carbon Turntable) and some online places I’ve seen don’t ship to Puerto Rico.

Do you know of a online site where they ship to the island?

Additionally, I am having serious trouble with understanding whether I need an amplifier, a phono, preamplifier, ect. If you could at least direct me into places where I could read up understandable information on these topics it would be great!

kets13

Matthew, great article. I’ve been interested/intrigued by the notion of buying a turntable for some time, but get overwhelmed when I start looking into it (true beginner).
My question for you, is this:
what is the most minimalistic set-up i could have for either the AT-LP60 or the Pro-Ject Carbon? I would want to have this player in a small room that currently has no other Audio equipment. Would it be as simple as buying one of these turntables and a set of bookshelf speakers?
Thanks.

The AT-LP60 is by far more of a plug-n-play product. The Pro-Ject is the better turntable in terms of sound reproduction, but would require an integrated preamp, speakers and phono-in to work properly. The AT-LP60 should be able to connect directly to a set of speakers and be good to go. I hope that helps!

Matthew

Randy

Hi Matthew, wondering if you had any info on the Pro-Ject Audio – Tube Box S – Tube Phono Preamplifier? I’m currently in the research stage of purchasing a beginner TT setup and was thinking of combining this with the Debut Carbon that you recommend. Also, wondering if you could add a link to a decent beginner phono-in and cables for all?

I haven’t tried using the Tube Box S yet, but I’ve been meaning to check it out. It sounds pretty cool and so far I’ve not been disappointed with any of the Pro-Ject products I’ve tried out. I’ll do an update if I get a chance to check it out, but if you do get it, let me know how it works out.

hi matt! when i search through insound for pro-ject phono boxes http://www.insound.com/search/?query=phono+pro-ject , four different ones come up. which one do you recommend? is there a noticeable difference between the 99$ one and the 199$ one? thank you!

Without getting to wonky, the main difference is which cartridge (the needle and head mount) types they are intended to be used with. For example, the $99 unit is compatible with moving magnet (MM) cartridges such as the one that comes preinstalled in the Pro-Ject Carbon or Essential. The $199 one is intended to work with nearly any cartridge on the market including MM cartridges. If you’re on a budget and not intending any fancy cartridge updates in the next few years, you’d probably be best served with the cheaper phono box. If you’re going super high end you’d potentially notice a difference in quality too, but I doubt the difference would be that noticeable unless your system starts getting really decked out with upgrades. If you’re just starting out with a hi-fi system, I think you’d be happy with this one: http://www.insound.com/Phono-Box-MM-Preamp-Pro-Ject-Audio/P/INS108873/&from=60603

keith

I get a kick out of this. First the pro- ject , rega , and music hall tt don’t sound any better than the cheap p mount tt of the 80s.You can find them all day long for 50 bucks. Just put a good cart on them and you are good to go. If I spent 400 bucks on one of these I would tell you they are fantastic or I would look like a fool. They cant even keep the right speed. These are the nikes of the turntable world. Over priced poorly made. I wish someone that has been around turntables for a while would give honest no b.s. reviews.

Raphael Paz

I’d just bought the Pro-ject Debut Carbon and I need a phono box. Please recommend one. My Pre-Amp is an Anthem AVM50 actually a Processor and I use a Balanced Audio Technology BAT VK-6200 5 channel Amplifier. I want to buy the very best match for the Turntable.

I have a question…well it’s more of I need some advice. I
what to be in the Audiophile arena. Here is my setup today.

Speakers – MartinLogan
– ElectroMotion ESL 8″ Floor Speaker

Subwoofer – Velodyne 12’

Amp – Crown

Per Amp – David Havler DH-101

Turn Table – Realistic LAB-420

What do you recommend me doing…can
you tell me my strengths and weaknesses of me equipment.

Glocebo Labs

Erik – I used the LP60 for the past year or so and just recently got a Debut Carbon. I ran the LP60 into a Schiit Magni headphone amp into Sennheiser HD 598 headphones. The Debut Carbon is a step ahead for sure but I really, really enjoyed the time with the LP60, it was when I really learned to love the sound of vinyl.

Glocebo Labs

Thanks Matt, great stuff. Happy to see your recommendation on the Carbon as I was so close to buying a Rega but opted for the Carbon instead. I got the Debut Carbon a couple weeks ago and am already thinking of upgrades. Do you have a recommendation on the speed box vs. acrylic platter in terms of which to get first? I am less concerned with the speed switching capability of the SB and more interested in the improvement in sound vs. the improvement in sound that the new platter brings. Have you upgraded the cartridge? I have the Ortofon Red, which you may not have if you got the III.

kat

i was just given an AT-LP60 stereo turntable as a gift. the previous record player i had was part of an old record player/stereo console, with built in speakers and radio, etc. you say that the AT-LP60 has a preamp so i shouldn’t need speakers (technically) but i can’t really hear it all. do i have possibly have a different model than the one you are talking about? and what do i need to buy to be able to listen to my records? i’m not very tech savvy. do i need a receiver? or just speakers?
thanks for any advice!

I don’t have an AT-LP60 myself so it’ll make troubleshooting harder. However, from my experience with them the pre-amp is able to be switched on and off. Can you verify that the preamp is switched into the “on” (or possibly “line”) position? Based on my experience with it, it should work just fine with only a pair of speakers. I think the pre-amp comes set in the off position by default.

rkirkbride

Kets, As a Christmas present to myself, I bought an Audio Technica At-LP60 ($118 on Amazon), Lepai Tripath LP-2020A+ mini amp ($16.85 on Amazon) and a set of Micca MB42X speakers ($79.95 on Amazon). It is all you need to get started and sounds amazing. I did buy a Bang & Olufsen Beogram 3000 from an estate sale today for $50 🙂 Vinyl is a contagious disease…

Jackson Junglist

You will need to plug the turntable into a receiver, and then the receiver will have to have speakers connected. The phono preamp that is included in the AT-LP60 allows you to connect it to a receiver that does not have a phono specific input. You can plug it into any line input that you choose (CD, MD, Tape, Aux, or even DVD or VCR). If your receiver does have a phono specific input, you can turn the built-in preamp off, and connect it to the phono input. You will have to connect the ground wire in addition to the stereo RCA cables.

To bad that there are not the old phonographs listed, I realy love those old massive oak turntables.

kass

I was thinking of getting the Debut Carbon to link to my Bose lifestyle system. I have a few questions:

1. Would I be better off buying the turntable with the built-in phono or get a separate one?
2. What other equipment would I need to connect it to the Bose system?

Please advice. Totally new at this.

Sawyer Lightsey

I run an ion audio profile pro through a yamaha htr-5940 through a pair of JBL S38CHs and man, my records sound absolutely wonderful! Really happy with the turntable and glad my dad gave it to me for Christmas a few years ago 🙂

T-Vo

I noticed you said nothing of the cartridges. Could one buy a cheaper Deck and upgrade the cartridge to get better sound?

Hey T-Vo. It depends on which deck you’re using. Some use brand-specific cartridges and aren’t compatible with standard cartridges. If the deck uses a standard mount then it can be upgraded to get better sound. For example, I started with the Pro-Ject Debut which had a Ortofon 5E pre-installed. I later upgraded to the Rega Elys 2 and really liked the results.

eli barb

After about 5 years my Project Debut III kicked the bucket. About 3 years in the motor began getting noiser and then progressing to a loud whirring. Then as if possessed, one day it started playing backwards. I really liked the thing, but I’m having to really weigh out whether I want to drop more cash in Project players if the quality isn’t lifetime quality. I play maybe a 6 records a month so it’s not even like I’m a heavy user. When it started getting noiser I tried to contact them and basically got the brush off. Not a good support experience. Sound quality and usability was great, but longevity hasn’t impressed me.

eli barb

I had also purchased a project pre-amp, but the ground screw on the back busted after a year.

Mickey D

anyone know who makes a turntable that is 3 speed with pre amp? I have an old collection of my Dad’s records and most of them are 78’s. Also would like to put copies on my computer….of course all without breaking the bank ; ) Thanks

I also know you can upgrade a Project with a speed box and a pulley SB to play 78 rpm records.

Sachl123

Hi… I am looking for a turntable for my husband in the basement. Do you have any thoughts on either of these 3? I cannot find any reviews on thyem. Pyle Vintage Style Phonograph/Turntable, or Crosley Lancaster Entertainment Center. Everyone recommends the 1st one on your list but I am looking for a less modern/DJ type one. If you have any suggestions to offer I am all ears.

Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with either of the turntables you’ve mentioned. The reviews I’ve read suggest that the Crosley is probably a better bet than the Pyle which corresponds to my expectations based on the reputations of the companies.

If you’re thinking Crosley – you might want to consider these options too. They’re not perfect by any means, but they are very popular models and I’d expect them to sound and perform at least slightly better than the two options you mentioned:

Hello! I love the article it’s great to have some of this information. Would this be a good turntable to buy? What else would I need to buy for it to work? What speakers, pre-amps, and all that other stuff do you recommend? Is that turntable upgradeable? Sorry for all these questions I’m just very new. I also have some 45s I’d like to play would that be a problem with that turntable?

Joseph

Edit: My main question is what pre-amp, amp, and speakers should I purchase? I am set on buying this turntable now.

Iman

Hi! I’m very, very new to the whole record player scene, so I’d like to get some advice.

I’m rather young (teenager) and I’m planning to get a record player just for leisure, i.e. I’m not planning on developing/improving my turntables, just trying to start up a small vinyl collection and enjoy the music.

I have a couple of questions:

1) For a newbie who is merely looking for a record player to use to enjoy good music, would you recommend I get all those fancy amplifiers and equipment or just a fairly-good/decent turntable with most of the things built-in (like the AT-LP60-Automatic Turntable)?

2) I have a handful of 33 1/3 LP records, and I find that most turntables only play 33 rpm. Is it okay for me to play 33 1/3 records on 33 rpm? Does it significantly/noticeably affect the sound?

Thank you so much! I found this post very informative and I am very excited to start on my vinyl journey : )

1) It’s hard to say. With the AT-LP60 you sacrifice quality for the convenience of having a pretty unfussy turntable that will mostly work right out of the box. My guess is that if you’re just looking for something for casual use, you’ll be satisfied with the AT-LP60 and it is a solid starter turntable at a good price.

2) When you see turntables that say they play 33 rpm records, they’re really just using shorthand to say they play 33 1/3 rpm. The same is for any records marked at 33 rpm – they actually play at 33 1/3 rpm. Those speeds are standardized across the industry, so they’ll play just fine.

I hope that helps!

Matthew

Anna

Thanks this really helped me

Iman

Thank you very much!

Kirk

Hi Matthew – will this model – Debut Carbon USB Turntable – with the built in pre-amp hinder my ability to use an external pre-amp as well?

Hi, wondering if someone can provide me some adivce. I have a Sony STR-DN1040 AV receiver and looking to buy a turntable to connect. I was told I will require a preamp for this type of model. Can you recommend a turntable that is good quality with built in pre amp, prefer not to buy separately. Thanks Wade

mark

Hi, I am considering buying an AT-LP60. Do you know whether this will plug and play directly into a Bose wave system, or will I need anything else?

Junior

Hi Matthew, really enjoyed reading the article and greatly value your input. I have amassed a little vinyl collection and subsequently have finally decided to upgrade my turntable. Currently I have narrowed it down my options to either the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon usb or just the Pro-ject Debut without the usb option. I am not sure how often I would use the usb feature, but since most of my records do not have a digital version I would love the option of having vinyl quality music on the go with vinyl rips. But when reading your article you state, “the feature will cost you – either in terms of the overall quality of your turntable or in price.” Would you mind clarifying a bit what you meant by “overall quality”, are you also referring to sound quality or just the build of the turntable?

Secondly, are there any aesthetically pleasing but yet great functional tube amps that would work great with the Pro-Ject turntables. Form my research I have heard mixed reviews on the GemTube X-1. I am still fairly new in the audio word and a lot of the terminologies definitely escape my grasp. Any clean and clear suggestions you can offer would greatly be appreciated.

Regards,

Junior

Ryan Qualle

Matthew,

Great article, awesome information and there isnt much out there like this. I currently have a basic crosley thats just a plug in and play. As my fiancee and I prepare for our wedding we were hoping to upgrade our record player on our registry.

I really like Pro-ject Debut Carbon Turntable and am leaning in that direction. Also some of the speakers you recommended in your other article.

I would also LOVE to get a vacuum Tube Amplifier because i find them to look really beautiful. Is this a bad idea? Is there a brand or specific model that you recommend?

I would really love this set up and just dont feel educated/comfortable enough will all these different components to purchase something so expensive without a little research

I don’t think it’s a bad idea to pick up a tube amp. Many people swear by them. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of experience with them myself so I can’t offer a specific recommendation at this time.

Matthew

Josh

Hey Matthew!
I’m looking for a new, solid record player for under 200. To be able to close the lid during play and cassette decks are a must. got any ideas?
Thanks!

donjon1212 .

Hello Mathew,
The information that you are providing is very helpful and hard to find elsewhere. Thank you very much for all your time, effort and consideration.
I am seeking a vinyl record player turntable that also allows you to record/transfer your records directly right on to a recordable CD.
If possible, also, it would be a great if it had a cassette player and an AM/FM radio.
I am in my early 50’s and have a collection of vinyl records from the 1960’s through the 1980’s.
Thanks very much for your assistance.
Sincerely, with kind regards!

Guest

Hi Matthew,
I’m definitely a college student on a budget, but I would love to get into vinyls.
I’m looking at buying an Orbit u-turn turntable. I’m thinking about going with the basic set up, but upgrading the cartridge to a Grado Black1. I’ve been contemplating getting an acrylic platter too. What do you think? Are acrylic platters significantly better? An finally, This set up it looking like it’ll be $300, but that leaves me cash strapped when it comes to buying speakers. Do you have any suggestions for some economical yet quality speakers?

craig

You dont need a preamp as the reciever has a phono input,, although a good seperate preamp connected to a line input would probably soundbetter

oj

hi..would there be a problem if my turntable that has a built-in pre-amp is connected to phono input of an amplifier?

There wouldn’t be any “equipment failure” type problems if that’s what you mean. I can’t say for sure if there might be some degree of distortion or not, but I’d just recommend trying it out to see how it sounds. If you have the option of turning off the built in pre-amp, you could try that too to see which way sounds better.

oj

Hi Mat,
Thanks for the suggestions. I have actually tried plugging it into phono input of my amp. Unfortunately, and you’re right, there’s some kind of distortion. Second thing is I don’t know where to turn off the built-in pre-amp of my turntable. My player by the way is Pioneer PL-J5000-W. There’s also no grounding wire provided for this turntable. Is it the same for all type of tuntable with built-in pre-amp?

Ang

Need Some Advice!
I am looking to purchase a record player as a gift for my 60 year old father so that he can have the opportunity to play his old records from when he was growing up. So by that statement, I am very new to the turntable scene. My father is high tech-savvy, so any turntable with some application would not be an issue. I have been researching a lot about turntables, I read a lot about the different Audio-Technica brands (specifically LP120 and LP1240) and many of the brands mentioned above in your article. I really love the look of the Pro-Ject Carbon Debut, specifically.

I have read so many different reviews and so much different advice about which turntable to buy, that I have just gone in circles with which turntable would be the best option. The Pro-Ject Carbon Debut has minimal, but some negative reviews, and I just want a clarification what could be causing those users issues with the turntable may just be the user controlling the turntable (not using appropriate equipment, etc.) and not the turntable itself that is the problem.

I saw this article was written a little over a year ago in 2014. So I was also wondering if there was any updated advice or updated suggestions over the past year of any of the turntables mentioned, or even if there are any new turntables that have come out on the market that would be worth checking out. Thank you!

I can agree with everything you listed but the AT60 stuff. Maybe replace that with a numark tt250usb with has the beautiful S-Type arm, with height adjustment for $300 with the electronic crap included.

I’d selected the ion primarily because of the price point (it was half the price of the numark you mentioned) – but I think it’s a moot point. I’m pretty sure they discontinued the ion.

Jim

Hi Matthew,
Thanks for the great article. I have an Apple TV and Sonos system. How can I make the turntable work with this — or is there a better wireless turntable for this system?

Kosmo Kohler

Hello Matthew,
First off I want to tell you you have great website that’s very informative. I kind of found it by mistake while doing research on belt drive turntable specs. I enjoyed your article above but I have some counter opinions based on my 40 + years of vinyl being my primary music source. First off the debate between Belt drive and Direct Drive turntables has been going on for years and I’m afraid it will be ever settled. But saying a direct drive turntable has many disadvantages compared to a belt drive is a very generalized statement. The problem is most folks today especially the younger generation getting into vinyl have never owned nor even heard a good direct drive turntable. Now I’m not talking the plastic low end models coming out Japan in the 80’s and early 90’s nor am I talking about the Technics SL-1200 DJ clones (they don’t sound anything like a real SL-1200). What I’m referring to are the great mid to high end models produced by almost all the Japanese and some German manufactures in the 70’s and 80’s.
Now getting back to your article yes I do agree with you a belt drive turntable will absorb the motor noise via it’s belt, but a very well designed DD won’t have much motor noise to remove in the first place ! Case in point my Denon DP-62L and Sony PS-X600 DD’s both have absolutely dead silent backgrounds with no noise or perceivable motor rumble at all. Now I believe this is due in part not only to combination of great engineering and high quality construction but also to the similar servo type tonearms used by both to dampen tonearm resonances both in the vertical and horizontal planes (that’s a story in itself for another day).
Also you talk about the speed variations of DD’s that can affect the pitch (Wow & Flutter). Are you sure you’re not talking the cogging motor effect that can occur in some DD’s especially the poorly designed inexpensive models? Perfect speed and pitch is actually one of the advantages of properly designed DD turntable. These used high torque motors with their speed governed by Quartz Lock Servo Feedback circuits. Sony and Denon even took speed control a step further in that instead of measuring the actual speed of the motor they measured speed of the platter itself via a magnetic pickup head reading a magnetic stip imprinted on the bottom of the platter. Basically the speed of record itself is monitored in this type of setup, which in my mind is rather ingenious because that’s where the music is at, not in the motor or in a belt! (As a side note I see TEAC is using a similar technique in their new TOTL turntable, but instead of using a magnetic sensor they are are using a optical sensor to read the platter speed.).
In reality wow & flutter can actually be more of a problem on a belt drive turntable due to several factors. These include belt stretch and wear due to age , use, and the environment (temperature and humidity). Also the fact that a lot of Belt drives use AC synchronous motors that reference the 60 hz AC line frequency for speed regulation and we all know how clean household 120 VAC is! Look at companies like REGA and Pro-ject, if you want more accurate speed control of their turntables and the ability to change speeds without moving the belt they will sell you outboard speed box. Back in the day these speed regulation circuits were standard equipment. To their defense though Pro-Ject is now including electronic quartz lock speed control in most of their turntables.
So for comparison sake let’s look at the W&F and speed specs of a vintage Denon DP-62L DD vs new Pro Ject debut Carbon: Denon W&F = 0.008%, speed variation = 0.002% ; Pro Ject Carbon W&F = +/- 0.10%, speed drift = +/- 0.80%.
As you can see the specs of the vintage Denon blow away the specs of the modern Pro Ject. I know this isn’t really a fair comparison considering the Denon cost $600 new in 1984 and Pro Ject cost less than $500 today.
Now specs don’t necessarily tell you how a component will sound and I’m not here to talk down belt drives, they have their own sound that many find pleasing including myself. But my point here is don’t count out Direct Drive turntables. There are some fine vintage models out there that make beautiful music and will compete or surpass many of today’s belt drive turntables, especially in speed accuracy and W&F!

hitechmd

Kosmo that was a great article and u seem to know a lot about turntables. I’m 45 and have had a JVC fully automatic dd L-fx4 since I was about 10 years old and listen to it often but lately I’ve wanted to replace some old scratched lp with new ones and thought now would be a good time to upgrade my turntable but im Short On Funds and NOT sure What To Get with all this talk about acrylic platters belt drive vrs dd the selections seem overwhelming. I love music and just want to hear it the best way possible without killing my wallet . I had a few People tell Me not to Change it at all but i cant believe a new one Wouldnt Sound better and i Just wanted a better Sound far the new LPs lm getting ready to buy . What do u Think And or recommend . thanks for your help and time.

Kosmo Kohler

Hello hi tech days,
I’m glad you enjoyed my article. Now as far as new turntables sounding or being better than vintage turntables the answer to that is yes and no. It just depends on the turntable. If you know a little about electronics, are mechanically inclined, and don’t mind doing some preventive maintenance then vintage is the way to go. In a lot of ways some of the great vintage turntables of the 70s and 80s are more technologically advanced and sound as good if not better than all but your ultra high end modern turntables. I’ve looked at and listen to a lot of new and modern models thru the years and haven’t found in my price range that has marginally better in what I already have! That’s why a majority of my turntables are vintage Mid to TOTL DD and rim drive models (don’t count out those old Duals and Garrards).
Now if do decide on new the best advice I can give is if you value your records don’t buy one those cheap plastic ones that they are selling everywhere…..those make instant Frisbees of your records. Also stay away from the SL-1200 clones except maybe the new Pioneer…it got a great review in Stereophile. These may not hurt your records but they don’t sound very good either ….there designed for DJs. But I think you can’t go wrong with ProJect or and entry level Rega. ProJect is finally getting when it comes to accurate speed control….they are now incorporating Quartz Lock in many of their models…..boy 40 year old technology that was standard back in the day….go figure. Also don’t count out that new model from TEAC (can’t bear Japanese engineering)….marble/MDF base, glass platter, Optical Quartz Lock speed control, etc. Another thing to remember different cartridges can make a big difference in how a turntable sounds….another story for another day.

hitechmd

Is that the tn570 your talking about

hitechmd

Is that the tech TN 570 your talking about i will check it out, and yes I’m very mechanically inclined and don’t mind preventative maintenance. I’ve been a computer engineer for 15 years until I got sick and now can’t work, I take very good care of my LPs and have many that still look like new from the collection my dad gave me when I was 10 so knowing that it sounds like your saying belt driven would be better for me is that correct. which ones should I look at. My sickness messes with my mind in a bad way and I have a hard time making dissension and lately i have to trust in others for that so if u could tell me what vintage model you would get that isn’t above 500 dollars and a cartridge that isn’t above 100 I would really appreciate it. I understand u would probably like me to make my own choice and in the past i would have preferred that too but I’m having a really hard time with this, and don’t worry I won’t blame u if I don’t like what u pick I’m just thankful for your advice and input. And if u still think it should be the tech tn 570 than let me know but knowing im ok with mantance and upkeep it sounds like u have something better in mind for me. Thank you much for your advice and your quick response.

Kosmo Kohler

Yes either the tn570 with USB output or the tn550. Another good bet for less money would be the Denon DP-300F….I suggested this one to a friend of mine and he loves it. As for vintage turntable suggestions the list is a mile long. Any of the Denons, Sony PS-X600 or 500, PS-X6 and 7, Technics SL-7, SL-10, SL1200, SL 1300 etc. The big JVCs , Pioneer Pl-560/540, ….Yamahas, Luxman, and Micro Seiki also made some fine models….so did Dual and Thorens!

Kosmo Kohler

Good $100 catridges would be a Ortofon Red, Shure M97xe, Grado Green, Sumiko Oyster, also Nagoaka supposively makes a good sounding budget model. Also the lp gear version of the AT95e.

hitechmd

Thatnk u so much for your advice, It looks like I need to just save up and do it right with the tech tn so that’s what I will do, it also looks like the only difference in the 750 and 550 is a USB port wich I don’t need so the 550 should be fine, is that correct ? Or is there other differences I’m not seeing. Now that u know what turntable I’m getting, do u still recommend the same cartridge or should I save up for a different one? I thought a $100 cartridge was expensive but maybe I’m wrong from what I’m seeing out there. It seems as though the investment will be worth it in the long run since I hope to have another 40 years of listening ahead of me and don’t want my LPS to become a frisbee, what do u think? Your advice and help have been truly appreciated by my wife and I, she loves it when I play the LPs. Thank you for your expertise and your time.
Sincerely Geovonie